Circa 1900 — Above is the SS Amelia nearing the wharf at Vesuvius Bay, Salt Spring Island taken by an unknown photographer about 1900. Below, the Howe Sound Queen approaches the Vesuvius terminal a few weeks ago. Quite a difference. The reference number for the SS Amelia picture is C-07008 and is available from the BC Archives.

July 31st, 2017 — An out of order elevator on the new BC Ferry, Salish Eagle. I kind of assumed this was just one of those typical glitches that new ships have when first put into service. There is now a reliable report, however, from a one time main stream journalist that on August 1st this ship hadn’t one single functioning elevator and that seniors with week knees were unable to climb the steep stairs to the lounge and had to stay on the car deck. Another ferry fiasco on the horizon?

November 18th, 2016 — He played on the upper deck of the Queen of Coquitlam all the way from Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay on today’s 3pm sailing. He’s not Joshua Bell but he is very good. No one who went up onto the windy cold deck didn’t stop and listen for at least a little while. I didn’t get a chance to ask who, what, why, but the story I like to imagine is that he was returning from Gabriola Island having just bought a new bow from ex Edmonton Journal photographer now bow maker extraordinaire Mike Vann and couldn’t wait to try it out on his way home.